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Selene

April 5th, 2023

London in bloom: 11 places to admire spring flowers in London

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Selene

April 5th, 2023

London in bloom: 11 places to admire spring flowers in London

0 comments

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

To walk alone in London is the greatest rest                     Virginia Woolf, 1930

Spring is usually when London’s weather becomes slightly more bearable, as green oases gradually emerge from their hibernation and blooming flowers pop up from every street corner, across parks, botanic gardens, and Sunday markets. From white snowdrops, carpets of bluebells, bright yellow daffodils to budding roses and waterfalls of wisteria, the seasonal transformation is wonderful. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pictures, the ideal romantic getaway, a melancholic stroll or even the perfect picnic spot, here are 11 ideas for flower lovers in London.

Kensington and Chelsea

West London is home to a run of seasonal spring blooms that are on trend every year. Here, magnolias, purple wisterias and pink cherry blossoms colour street corners. It only seems fitting that the neighbourhood has a flower show named after it. Please do pay a visit from mid-April through June, as they are the best months for admiring the various blooms in Kensington and Chelsea.

Highgate Wood

If you prefer locations in North London, like me, Highgate Wood is an excellent choice. Blooming with springtime flowers from some of the season’s earliest instants, visitors can gape at snowdrops from as early as late February some years, with bluebells becoming a huge attraction from April to May.

Chiswick House and Gardens

Camellias can be a little difficult to find during spring in London. So if this is one of your favourite flowers, do explore Chiswick House and Gardens where you will find one of the world’s best collections. The yearly flower show is the best moment to steal a glimpse of these marvellous blooms, which can be traced back to the 1930s.

 

St James’s Park and Green Park

One of the early flower spots of London’s spring can be found at St James’s and Green Parks, where fields of bright yellow daffodils decorate the royal parks. The landscape is transformed with the first signs of bloom in the heart of London from late February to early April.

Battersea Park

This huge park has a small zoo and even a lake, and is located in the South West London. In March, crocus pepper blooms in the grassy spaces, while by April, a plethora of pink cherry blossoms and red plum flowers appear throughout the park. This is the perfect place for a sunny and relaxed picnic.

Greenwich Park

From late March to the end of April, London witnesses an explosion of pink blossoms. Perhaps no place is more popular than the vivid pink Cherry Blossom tunnel located in Greenwich Park. Found just down from the rose garden and Rangers House, go there early to dodge the crowds and then pay a visit to the Observatory and Planetarium.

 

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral has a brilliant bloom as the spring unfolds. Cherry blossoms in March, magnolias in April, and roses appear in June. Look up to capture the perfect moment as the dome is framed by delicate blossoms.

Osterley Park

You’ll be treated to the carpets of bluebells at Osterley Park, in West London. Throughout April and May woodlands and meadows are transformed into bright shades of purple through these UK native blooms. But remember, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so admire but don’t pick!

Holland Park

You will easily forget you’re in the middle of London when enjoying the peace of spring at Holland Park. April is an incredibly wonderful period, from the cherry blossoms of Kyoto Garden to the tulips of the Dutch Garden, and you will be sure to find the perfect day out.

 

Peckham Rye Park & Common

Wisteria’s appearances in the spring is fleeting but nevertheless sensational. If you are planning to see the cascading purple flowers, then head to the pergola at Sexby Garden in Peckham Rye Park for one of the best springtime views in London. May is the best time to witness wisteria in full bloom.

Regent’s Park

Roses in June and cherry blossoms in April, with a plethora of plenty of other varieties in between, are just a few of the reasons that a visit to Regent’s Park in spring is necessary. Picinic-perfect, Family-friendly, and with plenty of wide-open space, you can make it a whole day out watching blooms in Regent’s Park.

 

About the author

Selene

Hi! I'm Selene, a French and Italian GO LSE exchange student. I love London's vibrant cultural scene and wandering around in search for hidden historical anecdotes.

Posted In: Study Abroad

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